Refuse vehicle loading device



Oct. 23, 1956 s. B. WOOD REFUSE VEHICLE LOADING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May '7, 1954 IN V EN TOR.

Oct. 23, 1956 G. B. WOOD REFUSE VEHICLE LOADING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 7, 1954 4 v INVENTOR. 60R6 5. W000 BY m ATTOK/Vf) Oct. 23, 1956 e. B. WOOD REFUSE VEHICLE LOADING DEVICE 4. Shets-Sheet 3 Filed May 7, 1954 El I l IN VEN TOR. 60A 6 5. W000 Oct. 23, 1956 G. B. WOOD 2,767,867

TREFUSE VEHI'LE LOADING DEVICE Filed May 7, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 x0 C? ,9 a 52 lo/a 3 .---INVENTOR. 6 640/966 5. W000 United States Patent REFUSE VEHICLE LOADING DEVICE George B. Wood, Detroit, Mich., assignor of one-half to David D. Wood Application May 7, 1954, Serial No. 428,225

' 17 Claims. (Cl. 214-833) This invention relates to a vehicle loading device and more specifically to a loading device which finds particular adaptability in the loading material into refuse trucks wherein after the refuse is placed in the hopper portion, the device first compacts the material to reduce its volume and then forces the material into the interior of the truck body in a direction adapted to fill the body most efficiently.

Manufacturers and sellers of goods are more and more adopting the expedient of packaging their goods in various type containers to protect the goods and to facilitate handling and storage. The purchasers of the goods receive them in the packaged condition and usually discard the packaging material with the result that the municipal sanitation commission or department is faced with the problem of having to dispose of more and more refuse. The refuse is generally of light weight but of considerable bulk and unless the volume of the refuse can be reduced, the refuse handling vehicle is unable to carry a maximum weight load. The inability of the vehicle to carry a maximum weight load results in increased operating costs and inefficient disposal of the refuse.

The problem of reducing the bulk or volume of the refuse has been recognized heretofore and the prior art contains examples of attempts to overcome the problem, certain of which employ automatic loading devices which first fill the interior of the vehicle body and then, by

adding more material thereto, crush or compact the load- 7 ing device. The prior art devices have not been entirely satisfactory, however, because a loading mechanism which compacts or crushes the refuse after it has been loaded is unable to exert sufiicient force to reduce the volume of the loaded material in that portion of the vehicle body which is remote from the loading mechanism. Prior art loading mechanisms have also been objectionable in that during the time the mechanical loading device is being operated the workmen must stand idle because there is no provision made for continuous operation of the mechanical loader without subjecting the attendant to the likelihood of injury.

The vehicle loading device of this invention, however, solves the refuse handling problem in a novel manner by providing a continuously operable loading mechanism capable of crushing or compacting the refuse thereby reducing the bulk as it is being loaded and then by loading the refuse in such a manner that the interior of the vehicle body will be completely filled with the compacted material, all of which is accomplished without risk or injury to an attendant.

With the foregoing in view, an important object of this invention is to provide a vehicle loading device which crushes material as it is being loaded so as to reduce the volume of loaded material enabling the vehicle to carry a maximum load of weight.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vehicle loading device which loads the vehicle in such a manner that the loading material is packed tightly and compactly throughout the interior of the vehicle body.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined vehicle loading and compacting device which compacts the material to be loaded, loads the material, and which presents no risk of injury to an attendant.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vehicle carting device incorporated in a vehicle rear door, gate, or closure member which may be readily applied to existing vehicles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vehicle loading device, which when installed on a vehicle body presents its loading deck at a low level enabling easier and more efiicient loading of the vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a vehicle loading mechanism which may be continuously operated so that material being loaded is subjected to continuous compacting force being applied alternately from above and behind.

A further object of the invention is to provide a vehicle loading device which employs means to move material dumped on its loading deck or hopper portion inwardly of the vehicle body and which means operate in conjunction with additional means which crush and compact the material, the additional means having incorporated therein a holding feature which retains the crushed and compacted material as the loading means is retracted to move a fresh supply of material.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following description of a vehicle body or tailgate embodying the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a refuse truck or similar vehicle equipped with the novel vehicle loading device;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view similar to Fig. 1 but with certain elements of the loading device being shown in cross-section such as along the line 2-2 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the elements of the loading device arranged in the position they would assume when moving material from the loading deck into the vehicle interior;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational cross-sectional view of a portion of the loading device taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view, looking rearwardly of the loading deck and parts associated therewith;

'Fig. dis a rear elevational view of a portion of the loading device, certain parts thereon being shown in cross-section and being taken on the line 66 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is another rear view of a portion of the loading device taken on the line 77 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a top view, partly in cross-section, taken along the line 88 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified pack or crusher plate; and

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the over-load release or resistance-compensated power link.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals represent like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, the embodiment shown therein to illustrate the invention generally comprises a motor vehicle body 10 to the rear of which is secured the novel loading device 11 which comprises a rear closure member or tail gate 12 in which is incorporated a loading deck 13, a hopper 14, and a loading ram 15 assembly adapted to sweep material out of the hopper upwardly so that the swept material comes to rest on a load bearing portion or anvil 16, which forms a part of the vehicle body, at which time a toggle operated platen or compressor 17 is actuated to bear against the swept material and crush it between the platen and the anvil as the loading ram is being retracted.

More particularly, Fig. 1, the vehicle body is preferably of the enclosed type generally used for the hauling of refuse and has a top, sides, and front with an open rear end to the top edge of which the tail gate 11 may be hingedly secured by suitable brackets and 21 and pivot pins 22. The vehicle body 10 is preferably a dump body capable of being rocked about pivot point 23 by the action of a hydraulic jack 24 elevating the forward portion of the body. The tail gate may be swung about its hinged mounting at the top of the truck by the action of its rear and reversely bent and directed forwardly so as to provide a loading deck or shelf 13, the edges of which may be welded to the side walls as shown in Fig. 5. The deck 13 slopes gently forward as seen in Fig. 2 so that refuse or other material placed thereon will have a tendency to slide forwardly rather than fall rearwardly off the deck onto the ground. The spacers 32B forward end 33 is bowed so as to curve gently upwardly and the forward edge 34 of the spacer is adapted to overlap the rear edge of the end of the truck body floor 35 so as to form a hopper area 14. The spacers 32B, 33, and 34 constituting a floor or sub deck defining the bottom of the hopper area into which material may fall from the loading deck 13.

The ram 39 is swingably supported on the arms 37 and 38 which are pivotally suspended on the stub shafts 36A and 3613 which are respectively mounted on sides 30 and 31. The lower ends of ram arms 37 and 38 are welded or otherwise suitably secured to the side edges of a loading ram 39 which comprises a suitably reinforced panel adapted to sweep the bottom of the hopper area 14 and move material from the hopper toward the interior of the vehicle body 10. To the top of the panel 39 is secured an arcuate skirt 40 which rides just below the forward edge of the loading deck 13. The skirt 40 serves the purpose by preventing refuse which may be piled up on the deck or in the hopper from falling behind the loading ram panel 39 when it is being advanced toward the vehicle body.

The loading ram 39 is operated through a pair of drive or drag links 41 and 42 pivotally connected at one end as at 43 to ram arms 37 and 38 and at the other end to cranks 44A and 44B which swing on a rock shaft 45 journalled in side walls 30 and 31. Rocking motion is imparted to the cranks 44A and 4413 by a hydraulic jack 46, the cylinder 47 of which is pivotally secured to a transversely extending brace 48 and the piston rod 15 of which is pivotally secured to a crank 49 fixed at approximately the central portion of rock shaft 45. The hydraulic jack 46 is adapted to operate through a suitable valve 100 so that whenever the piston reaches the extent of its stroke in either direction, the valve is actuated to reverse the direction of the piston travel by the trap 101 connected to a crank on the crank shaft 45 and, consequently, the direction of the travel of the loading ram 39.

The structure thus far described constitutes a loading device which may be continuously operated, if desired, so that a very large quantity of refuse may be placed in the hopper and then automatically swept into the vehicle body in suitable increments from the bottom of the hopper with the unique cooperation between the loading deck and the arcuate skirt preventing the return stroke of the loading ram from discharging excess refuse onto the ground through the open rear end of the lower spacer. This particular feature of the invention is well illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5 which disclose the loading ram 15 moved forwardly by operating arms 37 and 38. It will be noted that the leading edge of the loading deck 13 is provided with a downturned flanged 50 which brushes the upper surface of the skirt clean as it being retracted under deck 13. From the foregoing, it can be seen that refuse dumped into the hopper area is swept into the body area by the ram and its associated parts.

Referring now to the compacting or bulk reducing portion of the device, the tail gate 11 is provided with ears 51A and 5113 at its sides which project toward the interior of the vehicle body and in which is journalled a shaft 52 to which is suitably secured a platen or compressor 17. Platen 17 preferably extends the width of the hopper area 14 and may be angularly shaped in cross-section so that its refuse compressing portion 53 substantially parallels the truck body anvil 16 when the platen is in its lowered position to get the force applied by the platen is distributed substantially and equally over the anvil. Joining the refuse comprising portion 53 with the pivot shaft 52 is a panel section 53A whose function it is to impel the refuse toward the front of the body as will appear herein after.

On the upper surface of the platen 17 are a pair of pivotally mounted, spaced tubular sockets 54A and 548 into each of which is slidably fitted correspondingly spaced thrust rods 55A and 5513. The thrust rods 55 are pivotally connected at their upper ends to a transversely extending panel 56 which in turn is pivotally secured to a rock shaft 57 journalled in side walls 30 and 31.

The sockets 54 and thrust rods 55 constitute one link of a toggle 60 while the panel 56 constitutes the other link of the toggle as will be readily apparent from Figs. 1, 3. A toggle operating link 61 is connected at one end to the point of juncture of the two toggle links and at the other end to a crank 62 on the rock shaft 45. The toggle operating link 61 is shown in its preferred form in Fig. 10 of the drawings as a straight rod for convenience, but it should be understood that it is preferable to a hydraulic or other suitable safety cylinder which will release under excessive pressure, so as to provide a resistance compensated overload release.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, there is disclosed a pair of chains 63 connected between toggle link 56 and the radial or outer edge 64 of the platen 17. The chains are adapted to raise the platen when the toggle operating link rocks the toggle link 56 clockwise, as seen in Figs. 1 and 3, so as to increase the throat area 57 between the body anvil and the platen as will be described in more detail hereinafter. The length of the chains 63 is longer than the length of the toggle link made up of the sockets 54 and thrust rods 55 when the latter are seated at the bottom of the sockets. The importance of this feature is that in elevating, the platen lags the forward sweep of the loading ram and permits the platen to be elevated independently of the toggle as will appear more fully herein and in descending the platen device on the material ahead of the power stroke of the toggle. The overload release or resistance compensated toggle power link 61 comprises a cylinder 70 and a piston 71 with the cylinder 70 connected to the crank arm 45A and with the piston rod connected as at 60 to the toggle link 56. The release valve 73 and the check valve 74 are so adapted that when more resistance is encountered, at the toggle than desired, the release valve 73 opens and the oil in the chamber A bypasses the piston 71 and flows into chamber B thereby allowing the cylinder 70 to overtravel the piston. On the return stroke, the check valve 74 opens easily and the oil in chamber B is returned to chamber A to place the device at normal. The overload release or resistance compensate link 61, Fig. 10, comprises of a cylinder 70, a piston 71, and a rod guide 72 forming chambers A and B. The straight platen 80, Fig. 9, is integrated in the device substantially the same as the angulated platen 53 of the other figures and it is considered within the purview of the invention to vary the shape of the platen crusher as desired.

In the use and operation of the vehicle loading device, the vehicle body is provided with the novel tail gate pivotally secured thereto as hereinbefore explained and it is to be noted that the construction of the tail gate permits the loading deck to be disposed at a substantially lower level than the truck floor 35 which means that attendants will not be required to lift the refuse to any great height. This feature is a distinct advantage since the lower loading deck will permit one person to load refuse in certain instances when two formerly were required and also increases the speed with which the refuse may be loaded.

Assume that a refuse container has had its contents of cans, cartons, boxes, and the like deposited on the loading deck 13. Most of this refuse will spill over into the hopper forwardly of the panel 39 and the rest may be pushed therein. The hydraulic jack 46 will be actuated so that the rock shaft 45 is rocked first in the clockwise direction and then in the counterclockwise direction as seen in the drawings. Rocking of the rock shaft 45 in the clockwise direction carries the cranks fixed thereto in the clockwise direction also, with the result that the drive links 41 and 42 swing ram arms 37 and 38 forwardly about their pivot points on bearings 36. As the arms 37 and 38 are swung forwardly, they carry the panel 39 forwardly and upwardly in an arcuate path so that the refuse in the hopper is swept forwardly and upwardly into the throat area 57.

As the rock shaft 45 is rocked clockwise by the hydraulic jack 46, the toggle operating link 61 is also drawn upwardly so that the link panel 56 is rocked upwardly with the result that the pair of chains 63 become taut and elevate the platen or compressor 17 to enlarge the throat area between the platen and the anvil 16. In this manner, refuse is swept from the hopper forwardly and upwardly by the loading ram 39 until the elements reach the position shown in Fig. 3 where the refuse is positioned between the anvil and the platen and held there by the loading ram 39. At this point, the direction of the force exerted by the hydraulic jack 46 is reversed so as to rock the shaft 45 in the reverse direction enabling the ram arms 37 and 38 to carry the loading ram rearwardly during which movement the loading deck flange 50 will brush any refuse off the skirt 40 into the hopper.

Rocking of the rock shaft 45 in the counterclockwise direction also drives the toggle operating link 61 downwardly and depresses or lowers the platen 17 by seating the ends of the thrust rods against the bottoms of the sockets so as to crush the refuse between the platen and the anvil. Obviously, the crushing stroke of the platen may be lengthened or shortened by varying the length of the thrust rods. The toggle arrangement of the compressor enables the force exerted by the link 61 to be greatly magnified so that even large metal containers will be crushed.

When the loading ram has been returned to its initial position as shown in Fig. 2, the direction of the force exerted by the hydraulic jack is again reversed so that additional refuse in the hopper is swept forwardly and upwardly into the throat area between the platen and the anvil. It is at this point that the value of chains 63 is realized. It has already been pointed out that the lower toggle link comprising the tubular sockets 54 and the thrust rods 55 is a freely slidable, unsecured connection so that if it were not for the chains 63, the forward motion of the toggle link 61 would not elevate the platen. The chains 63 are preferably longer than is required to hold the ends of the thrust rods 55 firmly seated against the bottoms of their respective sockets 54 so that the elevation of the platen lags the forward motion of the toggle operating link 61 until such time as the slack in the chains is taken up. This lag in the elevation of the platen permits the platen to remain in position for a limited pcriod of time against the crushed refuse and hold it in the throat until the ram panel 39 has partially completed the next succeeding loading stroke. The operations just described will be repeated until the vehicle body is completely loaded and it will be observed that the refuse is loaded by being directed inwardly and upwardly of the vehicle body.

In the operation of the linkage, it is to be noted that the cross-beam support 48 supports the hydraulic jack 46 thereon, Fig. 7, and that a hydraulic pump furnishes oil under pressure to the cylinder 46 via the two way valve and via the hoses 102 and 103 to either end of the jack cylinder 46 on either side of the piston contained therein for bidirectionally driving the piston either upwardly or downwardly as seen in Fig. 7. Upward movement of the piston in the jack 46 moves the pivot rod or crankshaft 45 and connected supporting and reinforcing I-beam 45A upwardly or clockwise as seen in the drawings carrying the various cranks attached thereto therewith. It can now be seen that the two-directional reversing valve 100 is set by the two positioned lever 104 as held by the spring 105 in either of the positions in which it is moved by the dogs 101 and 101A on the con trol rod 106 which is connected to a crank on the crankshaft 45. It is to be noted that the dogs 101 and 101A are adjustable on the rod 106 so as to activate the two positioned lever 104 at the desired time and travel intervals so as to actuate the two way valve 100 at the desired times and to reverse the flow of oil into the jack 46 via the hoses 102 and 103. When the oil under pressure is fed by the pump, not shown, via the valve 100, the jack 46 will be first powered upwardly as seen in the drawings and then powered downwardly as seen in the drawings and then powered upwardly as seen in the action of the associated linkage in conjunction with the two way valve 100.

It can now be seen that the pivot rod or crankshaft 45, and reinforcing I-beam 45A, and the associated cranks 44A, 44B, and 62 will be swinging in an upward or a clockwise rotational movement with the upward movement of the associated linkage and swinging in a downward or counterclockwise direction with the downward movement of the associated linkage so that the ram cranks 44A and 44B constantly reciprocate the ram power links 42 to rock the ram arms 37 and 38 so as to move the ram 39 back and forth in the hopper area 14 to load the material into the truck body. It can also be seen that under the constant reciprocating motion of the crankshaft 45 and compactly crank 62, the pressure'platen 53 or 80 is constantly reciprocated up and down via the power link 61 and the toggle linkage 54, 55, and 56 pivotally connected thereto so that the pressure platen is constantly advancing and retracting toward the anvil 16, and it is to be further noted that the cranks are so associated that when the ram 39 is in the most rearward portion of its stroke that the pressure platen 53 or 80 is in the most forward portion of its stroke towards the anvil 16 and that when the ram moves forward to load more material from the hopper area, the pressure platen 53 or 80 is in its highest position so as to open the throat of the device into the body to facilitate the advancement of the crushed material into the body and the loading of the area between the platen 53 and the anvil 16 again for the next stroke of the pressure platens 53 or 80.

The utility of the overload-release or resistance-compensated toggle power link 61 is appreciated when it is considered that incompressible materials or objects may be placed between the pressure platen and the anvil, which would normally result in the destruction of some portion of the mechanism if there was not an overload release inherently integrated in the mechanism. Considering that a large piece of concrete is located between the platen 53 and the anvil 16, the downward stroke of the power link 61 operates the toggle links to travel the pressure platen 53 into contact with the concrete piece,

7 and then, instead of the toggle mechanism being forced further, the cylinder 70 of the link 61 overrides the piston 71 so that the oil bypasses the piston 71 through the overload valve 71 so that the platen travel is stopped at pressure thereby eliminating destructive forces on the mechanism itself.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the refuse is subjected to a multitude of compacting forces, the first of which occurs when the refuse is initially swept out of the hopper into the throat area. A second compacting force is exerted by the platen crushing the refuse between the platen and the truck body anvil, and a third compacting force is exerted when the crushed refuse is shoved out of the throat by the force of additional refuse being swept into the throat by the loading ram. All of these forces contribute to the reduction in bulk volume of the refuse, although it is obvious that the main compressing force is that created by the crushing of the refuse between the platen and the anvil.

When the body of the truck has been tightly loaded and packed with refuse, the truck will be driven to a dumping ground where the entire rear closure or tail gate 12 may be swung outwardly and upwardly on its pivotal connection 22 in the upper end of the tail gate by means of the hydraulic jack 25 exerting force on the brackets 27. The forward end of the truck body 10 may then be raised upwardly by hydraulic jacks 24 in the usual manner of dump trucks of this character. Inasmuch as the tail gate 12 will have been swung about its pivot 22 the entire rear end of the truck body 10 will be uncovered or opened permitting the refuse therein to be unloaded by gravity.

The invention has been shown and described in detail but it is obvious that numerous details of the construction may be modified or omitted without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, the chains 63 may be completely eliminated if desired and the thrust rods 55 provided with enlarged ends to cooperate with shoulders or the like positioned as desired in the tubular sockets 54. Furthermore, if it is desired to eliminate the lagging-holding feature of the platen, unitary links may be substituted for those shown. In view of the susceptibility of modification of the illustrative embodiment such as mounting the anvil portion on the tail gate, this specification should be construed as illustrative rather than in a limiting sense, as th invention is defined and restricted only in the claims.

I claim:

I. A material handling device for attachment to a truck body having a load receiving portion adjacent the rear end thereof, comprising a closure securable to a body at the rear end of the body, said closure having a constantly accessible loading deck therein located at the rear thereof, a material receiving hopper in said closure inwardly of said loading deck, said hopper having its discharge end adjacent the body load receiving portion, a load bearing portion onto which material is compacted located at the juncture of the discharge end of said hopper and the body load receiving portion a reciprocably swinging loading panel mounted in said closure and adapted to sweep material from said hopper onto said load bearing portion and compact it against material previously compacted thereon moving said previously compacted material into said body load receiving portion, a reciprocably swinging compressor panel mounted in said closure and spaced from said load bearing portion to define a variable area throat therebetween, said compressor panel being adapted to compress material swept from said hopper between said compressor panel and said load bearing portion, and means reciprocatingly swinging said loading panel and said compressor panel sequentially advancing them toward said throat and said load bearing portion respectively.

2. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said loading panel is provided with a rearwardly extending exten- 8. sion which is disposed under said loading deck and spaced from the bottom of said hopper.

3. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means is operable to swing said loading panel and said compressor panel in opposite directions of reciprocation whereby as material is swept into said throat by said loading panel, said compressor panel is swung away from said load bearing portion to increase said throat area.

4. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means tides power driven crank having a toggle connection to said compressor panel.

5. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means includes a power driven crank having a driving connection to said loading panel.

A vehicle loading device including a hopper area comprising side members, a loading deck disposed between said side members, a floor below said deck extending beyond said deck on the vehicle side thereof, a reciprocating ram adapted to move over said floor outwardly of said deck, and a skirt on said ram adapted to slide back and forth under and relative to said deck so as to constitute an extension thereof to preclude material falling off said deck behind said min when said ram moves outwardly away from said deck.

7. A vehicle loading device including a mechanical linkage operating system comprising a crank shaft, a power crank extending from said shaft, a jack support, a jack based on said support connected to said power crank adapted to bidircctionally rock said shaft, ram operating cranks on said shaft adapted to reciprocate a loading ram, and a compacting platen operating crank on said shaft; said ram cranks and said platen crank being disposed relative to each other so as to phase the advancement of the platen with the retraction of the ram and the advancement of the ram with the retraction of the platen.

8. A vehicle loading device comprising side members, paired ram arms pivotally mounted on said members, paired drive links connected to said arms, and a ram member disposed between said arms, power means for reciprocating said links so as to travel said ram member back and forth, a loading deck disposed between said side members, a floor below said deck extending beyond said deck on the vehicle side thereof; said reciprocating ram adapted to move over said floor outwardly of said deck, and a skirt on said ram adapted to slide back and forth under and relative to said deck so as to constitute an extension thereof to preclude material falling off said deck behind said ram when said ram moves outward away from said deck.

9. A vehicle loading device comprising side members, paired ram arms pivotally mounted on said members, paired drive links connected to said arms, and a ram member disposed between said arms, power means for reciprocating said links so as to travel said ram member back and forth, a loading deck disposed between said side members, a floor below said deck extending beyond said deck on the vehicle side thereof; said reciprocating ram adapted to move over said floor outwardly of said deck, a skirt on said ram adapted to slide back and forth under and relative to said deck so as to constitute an extension thereof to preclude material falling off said deck behind said ram when said ram moves outward away from said deck; an anvil portion disposed between said side members, a movably mounted compressor platen adapted to swing toward and away from said anvil portion, means disposed on said side members supporting said compressor platen, a first toggle link on said platen, a second toggle link on said means; said links being connected to each other; and a power shaft connected to said links at their point of mutual connection adapted to jackknife and extend said links so as to move said platen toward and away from said anvil.

10. A vehicle loading device comprising side members, paired ram arms pivotally mounted on said members, paired drive links connected to said arms, and a ram member disposed between said arms, power means for reciprocating said links so as to travel said ram member back and forth, a loading deck disposed between said side members, a floor below said deck extending beyond said deck on the vehicle side thereof; said reciprocating ram adapted to move over said floor outwardly of said deck, a skirt on said ram adapted to slide back and forth under and relative to said deck so as to constitute an extension thereof to preclude material falling off said deck behind said ram when said ram moves outward away from said deck; an anvil portion disposed between said side members, a movably mounted compressor platen adapted to swing toward and away from said anvil portion, means disposed on said side members supporting said compressor platen, a first toggle link on said platen, a second toggle link on said means; said links being connected to each other; a power shaft connected to said links at their point of mutual connection adapted to jackknife and extend said links so as to move said platen toward and away from said anvil; a crank shaft disposed between said side members, a power crank extending from said shaft, a jack support disposed between said side members, a jack based on said support connected to said power crank adapted to by-directionally rock said shaft, ram operating cranks on said shaft adapted to reciprocate said paired ram drive links, and a compacting platen operating crank on said shaft adapted to reciprocate said toggle power shaft; said ram cranks and said platen crank being disposed relative to each other so as to phase the advancement of the platen with the retraction of the ram and the advancement of the ram with the retraction of the platen.

11. A vehicle loading device comprising side members, paired ram arms pivotally mounted on said members, paired drive links connected to said arms, and a ram member disposed between said arms, power means for reciprocating said links so as to travel said ram member back and forth, a loading deck disposed between said side members, a fioor below said deck extending beyond said deck on the vehicle side thereof; said reciprocating ram adapted to move over said floor outwardly of said deck, a skirt on said ram adapted to slide back and forth under and relative to said deck so as to constitute an extension thereof to preclude material falling off said deck behind said ram when said ram moves outward away from said deck; an anvil portion disposed between said side members, a movably mounted compressor platen adapted to swing toward and away from said anvil portion, means disposed on said side members supporting said compressor platen, a first toggle link on said platen, a second toggle link on said means; said links being connected to each other; a power shaft connected to said links at their point of mutual connection adapted to jackknife and extend said links so as to move said platen toward and away from said anvil; a crank shaft disposed between said side members, a power crank extending from said shaft, a jack support disposed between said side members, a jack based on said support connected to said power crank adapted to by-directionally rock said shaft, ram operating cranks on said shaft adapted to reciprocate said paired ram drive links, a compacting platen operating crank on said shaft adapted to reciprocate said toggle power shaft; said ram cranks and said platen crank being disposed relative to each other so as to phase the advancement of the platen with the retraction of the ram and the advancement of the ram with the retraction of the platen; a control crank on said crank shaft, said control crank adapted to reciprocate with the rocking of said shaft, a switch rod on said control crank, a reversing switch adapted to reverse the power applied to said jack; said control rod being adapted to operate said switch at the desired point of travel of said shaft to reverse the power to said jack to change the direction of travel of said shaft.

i 12. In a refuse vehicle, a closed body including a rear closure member pivoted at its upper end and means removably fixing said closure member against the rear end of said body, an anvil at the rear of said body floor adjacent said closure member, a hopper carried by said closure member loadable from street level and communicating with said anvil, a compressor member carried by said closure member normally elevated above said anvil movable to compress material thereagainst, a ram and means for advancing said ram toward said anvil to sweep material from said hopper to said anvil when said compressor member is elevated, and means moving said compressor against material on said anvil after said ram has been advanced whereby to compact the material on said anvil, said ram and said compressor member being actuated sequentially to transfer material from said hopper to said anvil and to compact material on said anvil, the material transferred by said ram from the hopper to said anvil pushing a previously compacted material from said anvil into said closed body simultaneously with compacting said material in the direction of transfer thereof onto said anvil.

13. In a refuse vehicle, a closed body including a rear closure member pivoted at its upper end and means removably fixing said closure member against the rear end of said body, an anvil having its forward end located substantially at the rear of said body floor and its rear end adjacent said closure member, a hopper carried by said closure member loadable from street level and communicating with said anvil, a compressor member pivoted on said closure member normally elevated above said anvil movable to compress material thereagainst, said compressor member when in its elevated position forming with said anvil an inwardly sloping throat having a constricted area at the forward end of said anvil, a ram and means for advancing said ram toward said anvil to sweep material from said hopper to said anvil when said compressor member is elevated, and means pivoting said compressor against material on said anvil after said ram has been advanced whereby to compact the material on said anvil, said ram and said compressor member being actuated sequentially to transfer material from said hopper to said anvil and to compact material on said anvil, the material transferred by said ram from the hopper to said anvil pushing a previously compacted material from said anvil into said closed body simultaneously with compacting said material in the direction of transfer thereof onto said anvil.

14. In a refuse vehicle, a closed body including a rear closure member pivoted at its upper end and means removably fixing said closure member against the rear end of said body, an anvil having its forward end located substantially at the rear of said body floor and its rear end adjacent said closure member, a hopper carried by said closure member loadable from street level and communicating with said anvil, a compressor member pivoted on said closure member normally elevated above said anvil movable to compress material thereagainst, said compressor member when in its elevated position forming with said anvil an inwardly sloping throat having a constricted area at the forward end of said anvil, a ram and means for advancing said ram toward said anvil to sweep material from said hopper to said anvil when said compressor member is elevated, and means pivoting said compressor against material on said anvil after said ram has been advanced whereby to compact the material on said anvil, the said compressor being provided with a generally forwardly facing pressure area serving to push upper strata of material within said closed body forwardly therein simultaneously with compacting material on said anvil, said ram and said compressor member being actuated sequentially to transfer material from said hopper to said anvil and to compact material on said anvil, the material transferred by said ram from the hopper to said anvil pushing a previously compacted material from said anvil into said closed body simultaneously with compacting said material in the direction of transfer thereof onto said anvil.

15. In a refuse vehicle, a closed body including a rear closure member pivoted at its upper end and means removably fixing said closure member against the rear end of said body, an anvil at the rear of said body fioor adjacent said closure member, a hopper including a loading deck at the rear thereof carried by said closure member loadable from street level, said hopper communicating with said anvil, a compressor member carried by said closure member normally elevated above said anvil movable to compress material thereagainst, a ram having its face normally aligned with the front edge of said loading deck including an upper skirt slidable below said loading deck, and means for advancing said ram toward said anvil to sweep material from said hopper to said anvil when said compressor member is elevated, said skirt preventing refuse from falling behind said ram when retracted, and means moving said compressor against material on said anvil after said ram has been advanced whereby to compact the material on said anvil, said ram and said compressor member being actuated sequentially to transfer material from said hopper to said anvil and to compact material on said anvil, the material transferred by said ram from the hopper to said anvil pushing a previously compacted material from said anvil into said closed body simultaneously with compacting said material in the direction of transfer thereof onto said anvil.

16. In a refuse vehicle, a closed body including a rear closure member pivoted at its upper end and means removably fixing said closure member against the rear end of said body, a hopper carried by said closure member loadable from street level, an anvil adjacent said hopper, a ram adapted to advance toward said anvil to sweep material from said hopper to said anvil, a compressor member carried by said closure member normally elevated above said anvil movable to compress material thereagainst, and means acuating said ram and said compressor member advancing said ram and moving said compressor member against material on said anvil after said ram has been advanced whereby to transfer material from said hopper to said anvil and compact material on said anvil, the material transferred by said ram from the hopper to said anvil pushing a previously compacted material from said anvil into said closed body simultaneously with compacting said material in the direction of transfer thereof onto said anvil.

17. In a refuse vehicle, a closed body including a rear closure member pivoted at its upper end and means removably fixing said closure member against the rear end of said body, a hopper carried by said closure member including a deck at the rear thereof loadable from street level, an anvil adjacent said hopper, a swingable ram including a rearwardly disposed skirt slidable under said deck preventing refuse from falling behind said ram adapted to advance toward said anvil to sweep material from said hopper to said anvil, a compressor member pivoted on said closure member normally elevated above said anvil swingable to compress material thereagainst, and means actuating said ram and said compressor member advancing said ram and moving said compressor member against material on said anvil after said ram has been advanced whereby to transfer material from said hopper to said anvil and compact material on said anvil, the ma terial transferred by said ram from the hopper to said anvil pushing a previously compacted material from said anvil into said closed body simultaneously with compacting said material in the direction of transfer thereof onto said anvil.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,323,366 Barrett July 6, 1943 2,371,540 Mott Mar. 13, 1945 2,480,527 Wachter Aug. 30, 1949 2,508,877 Walker et al May 23, 1950 2,561,608 Boissonnault July 24, 1951 2,622,748 Feidert Dec. 23, 1952 2,648,452 Gibson Aug. 11, 1953 2,649,216 Gollnick Aug. 18, 1953 2,703,184 Barrett Mar. 1, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 792,162 France Oct. 14, 1935 474,041 Italy Aug. 29, 1951 

